✔️Summary:

In this episode, I interviewed Marcia Gawood, an angel investor, who discusses her journey into the world of angel investing. She shares how she transitioned from a corporate job at Kaplan Education to becoming fascinated by innovative companies at a local angel investing meeting. Angel investing, she explains, differs from venture capital because angel investors use their own money, while venture capitalists invest using funds from other investors. Marcia emphasizes the accessibility of angel investing, highlighting how anyone can get involved with as little as $50 through equity crowdfunding, thanks to changes in SEC regulations in 2016.

Marcia mentions the importance of investing in groups for sharing expertise, especially in industries like healthcare, where she is passionate due to personal circumstances. She also addresses the significance of assessing a company’s team, scalability, and the problem-solving potential of their products. Evaluating the founder’s drive and compatibility with their team is key, as is understanding the broader market context.

She also discusses her involvement with angel groups like Golden Seeds, which focuses on women-led businesses, and Mindshift Capital, a global venture capital firm. Passion for certain causes, such as women's health, motivates Marcia's investment decisions, as well as the potential for both financial returns and societal impact. Finally, Marcia shares advice on how beginners can start angel investing, such as attending local startup events, conducting research, and considering investment platforms like equity crowdfunding sites.

⭐️About Marcia:

Marcia Dawood is on a mission to empower and educate everyone to realize their potential to invest in positive change. She is passionate about bridging the gap from early-stage inception to building thriving, profitable companies.

A proponent of diversity in startup leadership, which has proven to yield better outcomes, Marcia supports companies that are working on solutions to big problems in the world, like hunger, clean water, medical advances, and climate change.

Marcia is also an advisor to the Securities and Exchange Commission on the Small Business Capital Formation Committee.

Author of Do Good While Doing Well, TEDx speaker, and the host of The Angel Next Door Podcast, Marcia walks the talk and holds investments in over 50 early-stage companies and funds. She is committed to expanding support for diverse companies that overcome the world’s biggest problems and accelerate positive change.

She is a venture partner with Mindshift Capital and a member of Golden Seeds, one of the largest angel groups in the US. Both groups focus on investing in women-led companies.

She is Chair Emeritus of the Angel Capital Association (ACA), the global professional society for angel investors. She is a founding member and current chair of the ACA’s Growing Women’s Capital Group, which is building syndication and collaboration among US investment groups focused on women-led companies.

Previously, Marcia was the COO of Portfolia as well as a managing partner at BlueTree Capital Group, where she was responsible for investment strategy, diligence research, and member education.

Prior to that, Marcia won numerous awards as a top sales executive for Kaplan Education for ten consecutive years. She is also a co-author of the book You Can, You Will, which was an Amazon bestseller in 39 categories in four countries.

Marcia received an MBA from the University of North Carolina Kenan-Flagler Business School.

💜 Resources:

► Equity Crowdfunding Platforms: Republic.com, WeFunder, and StartEngine

► Book: "Do Good While Doing Well" by Marcia Gawood

► Marcia's podcast "The Angel Next Door": https://www.marciadawood.com/the-angel-next-door-podcast

► Marcia’s TEDx Talk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yI4i4qb3E8E